Concerts

The star entertainers begin performing after the last rodeo event is completed each evening and the stage is set. Actual start times for the concert can vary day to day due to the varying number of rodeo competitors and other factors. Weekday performances start at 6:45 p.m. with the entertainer taking the stage at approximately 8:45 p.m., and weekend performances start at 3:45 p.m. with the performers taking the stage at 5:45 p.m.

2015 Lineup

Eric Church

Eric Church is proving the strength of his contemporary country music with four nominations from the music industry's most prestigious event, the 57th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The nominations include Best Country Album for "The Outsiders," which blends the artist's appreciation for rock 'n' roll with his country roots. The artist received his first two GRAMMY® nominations for his popular song "Springsteen" in 2012.

Growing up in North Carolina, Church taught himself how to play the guitar after he started writing his own songs at age 13. He has produced four albums since signing his first record deal in 2005. In 2010, he won Top New Solo Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards and later, his album "Chief" won Album of the Year at the 2012 Country Music Academy Awards. In 2014, Church graced the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine for the launch of the iconic magazine's country extension, "Rolling Stone Country."

Hunter Hayes

Hunter Hayes has been playing the guitar since he was 2 years old, and performed with Hank Williams Jr. at age 4, so it is no surprise that he signed a publishing deal before the age of 20. The young talented artist not only co-wrote and co-produced his two most recent albums, but also played all 30-plus instruments in his debut album in 2011. Since then, Hayes has received four GRAMMY® nominations, was awarded CMA New Artist of the Year and was the youngest male act ever to top the Billboard Hot Country song chart.

The Louisiana-born musician also is recognized by Guinness World Records for the most live concerts in 24 hours in different cities, with 10 concerts in 10 cities in support of a charitable cause and his newest album, "Storyline." The album followed the GRAMMY® - nominated single "Invisible," which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs.

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert's fiery songs and straight-shooting, honky-tonk attitude have made her a superstar in country music. The GRAMMY® award-winning singer/songwriter started by performing at talent shows and fairs in her home state of Texas at age 16. She won third place on the reality TV series "Nashville Star," which lead to a recording contract. Lambert's first album, "Kerosene," showcased her songwriting ability, with her writing or co-writing 10 of the 11 songs, and earned the singer her first GRAMMY® nomination.

Lambert's successful second album, "Ex-Girlfriend," was followed by "Revolution" in 2009, which reached No. 8 in the Top 40s. Lambert received her first GRAMMY® award for "The House that Built Me" featured on her "Revolution" album. In 2011, she married fellow country singer Blake Shelton. Later that year, Lambert released her fourth album, "Four the Record," which is her highest charting album, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200. In 2014, the couple took home the highest American Country Music awards, Female Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year. Lambert is nominated for four GRAMMY®s in the upcoming 57th Annual GRAMMY® Awards.

John Legend

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John Legend showed immense talent at a young age, singing gospel and playing the piano at age 5, as well as graduating from high school at 16. While in college, Legend played piano for nationally recognized Fugees' member Lauryn Hill's hit song, "Everything is Everything." After graduation, the aspiring artist moved to New York, releasing his own CDs until he signed with musician Kanye West. West produced Legend's first studio album, "Get Lifted," which earned the artist his first three GRAMMY® awards, out of his phenomenal nine-time GRAMMY®-winning career.

Legend has won everything from Best Tango and Best Flamenco albums to Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album. Since his first album, Legend has released five more, with his most recent being "Love in the Future." This album earned Legend five consecutive releases to peak within the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. His latest works involve other artists such as will.i.am, Big & Rich, the Roots and Lupe Fiasco.

Alan Jackson

GRAMMY® award-winning artist Alan Jackson is a RODEOHOUSTON® favorite as he returns for his 22nd performance. The country icon has sold more than 50 million albums and produced 35 No. 1 hits throughout his career. In 2011, RodeoHouston paid tribute to Jackson's contributions to the Show with a Star Trail of Fame honor.

Coming from a small-town in Georgia, Jackson had nothing to lose chasing after his dream. The country superstar first worked as a songwriter for Glen Campbell's publishing company before signing as the first country artist to Arista/Nashville. Since his first album in 1990, Jackson has earned a spot at the coveted Grand Ole Opry, won Country Music Academy's Entertainer of the Year three times, and produced more than 15 albums. Overall, Jackson has won more than 100 career awards and is continuing to produce popular music. His latest album, "The Bluegrass Album," was released in 2013.

Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy rose from the Chicago underground music scene to success, after receiving a GRAMMY® nomination, before the alternative band split in 2009. After pursuing solo careers and joining other bands, the four musicians reunited in 2013 and released their album, "Save Rock and Roll."

Fall Out Boy is comprised of Patrick Stump, vocalist/guitarist; Pete Wentz, bassist/lyricist; Andrew Hurley, drummer; and Joe Trohman, guitarist. In 2005, the band released "Under the Cork Tree," which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 and featured two Top 10 hit songs: "Sugar, We're Going Down" and "Dance, Dance." The double-platinum album earned the band a GRAMMY® nomination for Best New Artist in 2005. The band's next album, "Infinity on High," followed similar success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts and going platinum a month later. In 2009, Fall Out Boy performed its last concert in Madison Square Garden after the band agreed to take a break. Four years later, Fall Out` Boy has come full circle and is rising to success again with an album that stays true to the band's emotional pop/rock sound.

Justin Moore

Singer/songwriter Justin Moore has had an exciting ride from a childhood in Poyen, Arkansas, population 300, to Academy of Country Music's 2014 New Artist of the Year. His rural roots have served him well in country music, with hit songs such as "Small Town USA." Determined to pursue a career in country music, Moore left his small town behind after high school to move to Nashville, Tennessee.

Moore's wit and Southern charm are apparent in his lyrics and have earned him two certified gold albums for "Justin Moore" and "Outlaws Like Me." The songwriter's sense of humor is heard in "Bait a Hook" and "Back That Thing Up." His second album, "Outlaws Like Me," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts with the No. 1 country hit "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away." His most recent album, "Off the Beaten Path," was released in 2013.

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw's journey to become one of the biggest names in country music is a story of perseverance. In 1993, McGraw's self-titled debut album did not register on music charts and failed to launch his career. However, McGraw did not give up and released his sophomore album, "Not a Moment Too Soon," which sold more than 5 million copies and appeared on country and pop album charts. With hit songs "Indian Outlaw," "Don't Take the Girl" and "Down on the Farm," the album became the best-selling country album of the year. This album was the spark that lit McGraw's career on fire. Since then, McGraw has won three GRAMMY® awards, released 54 Top 10 hits and 35 No. 1 tracks.

While touring for his third album, "All I Want," the artist met fellow country singer Faith Hill, who McGraw would later ask to be his wife. After they married, the artists performed several duets, winning the couple GRAMMY® awards for Best Country Vocal Collaboration in 2000 and 2005. In 2004, McGraw earned Best Male Country Vocal Performance with "Live Like You Were Dying." McGraw's latest album, "Sundown Heaven Town," continues his chart-topping streak and features two-time GRAMMY®-nominated song "Meanwhile Back at Mama's."

Brantley Gilbert

Value Wednesday

Brantley Gilbert has a unique blend of music that has earned him American Country Music 2013 Top New Male Artist of the Year, as well as millions of fans known as the "BG Nation." After surviving a serious car accident, Gilbert immediately turned all his attention to pursuing his music career. In 2009, the Georgia-born artist released his debut album, "Modern Day Prodigal Son." His sophomore album, "Halfway to Heaven," became certified gold with No. 1 hits "Country Must Be Country Wide" and "You Don't Know Her Like I Do."

In 2014, Gilbert released "Just As I Am," including the hit single "Bottoms Up," which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and the album was voted the American Music Awards Best Country Album of the year. With nearly 3 million likes on Facebook, Gilbert has an outstanding number of followers that reaches the standard of the top entertainers in country music.

Past RODEOHOUSTON® Performances: 2013

Singles
"Small Town Throwdown," "Bottoms Up," "You Don't Know Her Like I Do," "Kick It in the Sticks," "More Than Miles"

Zac Brown Band

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Zac Brown Band

With three GRAMMY® awards, this seven-man band hails from Georgia and sings harmonized songs with a relaxed, Southern coastal tune. The band's first single, "Chicken Fried," became the unofficial anthem of the South in 2008. Since then, the Zac Brown Band has a historic nine consecutive No. 1 hit singles and three platinum-selling albums. The band released a greatest hits album in 2014 with 14 of its best songs from the past seven years.

Music is only one dimension of the Zac Brown Band. Lead singer Zac Brown combines his passion for food and music with a unique "Eat & Greet" experience for fans prior to concerts and holds a food-and-music festival called Southern Ground.

Pitbull

Armando Christian Perez is a Latin GRAMMY®-award winner with many pseudonyms. Most commonly known by his stage name, Pitbull, the Miami native also has titled himself as Mr. 305 and Mr. Worldwide. Just as his monikers suggest, the musical superstar has grown from his hometown of Miami, the 305 area code, to international success, Mr. Worldwide.

Raised by parents who emigrated from Cuba, Pitbull incorporates his cultural heritage and roots into his music. The multi-talented artist mixes English and Spanish in his lyrics and has produced an entire Spanish album, "Armando." Since his debut album in 2004, Pitbull has produced seven studio albums, produced No. 1 hits in multiple countries and sold out concerts in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The artist has scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard's Rap Albums with his debut album, "M.I.A.M.I.," and 2009's "Rebelution." Called "The Master of Collaborations," Pitbull's latest album, "Globalization," was released in 2014, and is made up entirely of collaborations.

Billy Currington

For the past decade, Billy Currington has made a name for himself in country music with seven No. 1 hits and two GRAMMY® nominations. This Georgia-born musician never gave up on his dream, pouring concrete during the day and performing at night until he was discovered and signed a recording contract.

In 2003, Currington's first single, "Walk a Little Straighter," was released. It was not until six years later that he received major recognition for his easy-listening country sound with the 2009 hit single, "People Are Crazy." That career-defining hit earned GRAMMY® nominations for Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song; Academy of Country Music nominations for Single and Song of the Year; and Single, Song and Video of the Year from the Country Music Association. Currington released his latest album, "We Are Tonight," in 2013, which includes his hit single "Hey Girl."

La Arrolladora Banda El Limón

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With more than a dozen band members, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón is making a big sound in Mexico and the U.S. The band performs a variety of Mexican regional music including rancheras, corridos, ballads and cumbias. The band first captured the Mexican regional music scene in 1997 with the commercial recording debut of “¡Mas Arrolladora Que Nunca!.” Since then, the group has released eight albums between 1997 and 2001. In 2002, the band debuted its record label, and has since consistently released an album per year, both studio and live. The band reached its first-ever Billboard chart-topper with “Mas Adelante” in 2009.

La Maquinaria Norteña

In the past decade, La Maquinaria Norteña has evolved into a successful norteño band reaching the Top 10 in the regional Mexican chart in 2013. The original band started in Roswell, New Mexico, by former Los Rieleros vocalist Polo Urias. In 1994, the quintet released its debut album, “Polo Urias y Su Máquina Norteña.” Twelve years later, saxophone player Kieth Nieto separated from the band and formed his own La Maquinaria Norteña with his brothers. Today's La Maquinaria Norteña consists of accordion, drums, bass and electric guitar. The band released three albums before its latest, “Vive en Mi,” which reached the Top 10 and is the band's highest chart-setting album yet.

Dierks Bentley

Since stepping into the music scene, Dierks Bentley has produced everything from traditional country to bluegrass and Texas contemporary music. In 2003, he released his self-titled debut album with hit singles "What Was I Thinkin'" and "My Last Name."

Two years later the talented artist received an invitation to join the historic Grand Ole Opry and his first five GRAMMY® nominations, as well as being named the Academy of Country Music's Top New Artist. In 2012, Bentley released "Home," which debuted at No. 1 and spawned three consecutive chart-topping hits, marking 12 career No. 1 songs for Bentley as a singer/songwriter. In 2014 he released his latest creative work, "Riser," which earned him the most nominations for a male artist at the 48th Annual Country Music Association Awards, as well as a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Country Album.

RODEOHOUSTON® Performances: 2004, '07-08, '10, '13

Singles
"Drunk on a Plane," "I Hold On," "5-1-5-0," "What Was I Thinkin'," "Tip It on Back"

Ariana Grande

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Ariana Grande

In her early 20s, Ariana Grande is making music history. In 37 minutes, Grande's song "Problem" raced to No. 1 on the iTunes chart before it was even heard through radio. The song, featuring Iggy Azalea, sold 438,000 copies in its first week, making it the biggest debut in history for an artist under 21 years old and the fourth-largest debut in a week for a woman.

When you look at Grande's massive social media following on Twitter, it is no surprise that her music sold in record time. Before she switched to music, Grande acted in Nickelodeon's popular sitcoms "Victorious" and "Sam & Cat." Grande's second album, "My Everything," was released in 2014 and received a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album. The young artist also received a GRAMMY® nomination for her hit collaborative song "Bang Bang."

Florida Georgia Line

Value Wednesday

Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, the duo behind Florida Georgia Line, broke the records for the longest No. 1 on Billboard's Country Songs with "Cruise."

Their musical success doesn't stop there. The band's double-platinum debut album, "Here's to the Good Times," was released in 2012. The partners received Vocal Duo of the Year at the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards. "Anything Goes," Florida Georgia Line's sophomore album, reached No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, showing the band's music appeals to fans beyond country music.

Blake Shelton

Charisma and talent sum up country celebrity Blake Shelton. Chosen as a member of the famous Grand Ole Opry in 2010, Shelton's clear voice has taken his albums to gold and platinum status. Shelton won the 2012 Song of the Year for "Over You" from the Country Music Association with his country superstar wife, Miranda Lambert. Shelton's songs continue to succeed as his chart-topping song "Neon Lights" qualifies as his 13th consecutive No. 1 single.

The five-time Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year is one of the most recognizable names in the industry. In the past few years, Shelton has moved beyond the stage and brought his charm to millions as a judge on the talent search competition, "The Voice." His latest album, "Bringing Back the Sunshine," follows Shelton's past success and has reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

The Band Perry

Allman Brothers, Jackson Five, the Beach Boys and, now, The Band Perry — all successfully have gained a music career as a family band. With three Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards and a CMT award, The Band Perry is quickly becoming country music's favorite family, even with their rock influence. As the eldest sibling and lead singer, Kimberly Perry, said, "Daddy rocked us to sleep with the Rolling Stones; Mama woke us up with Loretta Lynn. So we get it honest."

The Band Perry has released multi-platinum records and played to sold-out arenas. The band's debut album released hits such as the quadruple-platinum hit, "If I Die Young," and the platinum song "You Lie." In 2014, the band was nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards and performed at the Super Bowl XLVIII pregame show. The band's second and most recent album, "Pioneer," was released in 2013 with two No. 1 singles, "Better Dig Two" and "Done."

Brad Paisley

At Brad Paisley's Grand Ole Opry induction in 2001, a letter from country music legend George Jones to Paisley read, "I am counting on you to carry on the tradition — and make folks sit up and listen to what good country music should sound like." For more than a decade, Paisley has been carrying on the tradition as one of the biggest stars in country music.

Paisley's talent has earned him three GRAMMY® awards and a record five consecutive Academy of Country Music Male Vocalist of the Year awards, and he has received more than a dozen Country Music Association awards. As a teenager, he opened shows for such Opry legends as Roy Clark, Jack Greene and Little Jimmy Dickens. Although he is known for his guitar skills, Paisley was originally hired as a songwriter before he released his first album as a singer in 1999. Since then, Paisley has released more than 10 albums, including his latest, "Moonshine in the Trunk," in 2014.

Luke Bryan

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Luke Bryan was named the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and American Music Awards Favorite Country Male Artist in 2014. Bryan's most recent album, "Crash My Party," is gaining attention as it has reached double platinum with several No. 1 country hits, including "Rollercoaster."

Bryan attended Georgia Southern University and performed small gigs at local bars. After college he returned home to help with the family farm, but soon moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to follow his musical passion at the request of his father. Bryan released his first album, "I'll Stay Me," in 2007 before releasing "Doin' My Thing" in 2009 with two No. 1 hits, "Rain Is a Good Thing" and "Someone Else Calling You Baby." Since then, Bryan has remained at the top of music charts with popular songs such as "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye."